Storm World Ch. 10

M`peth qHo bit back her anger, realizing she had nearly done something very foolish again. Mechanically she returned her pistol to its holster and let her breath out slowly.

"Is there anything we can do about them?" she asked, finally.

"No," Benjamin said, sounding more calm. "We just need to stay ahead of them until they lose interest. We have to get going before they close on us."

Benjamin jumped down into the midst of the other cats and set out at as fast a pace as the undergrowth would allow.

Even as she scowled after him, M`peth qHo's HUD alerted her to the approach of a number of creatures it had not previously detected. None were as large as the pair on their back trail, but there were enough of them to concern her.

"Quickly!" she said to the other jZav`Etch and jumped down from the huge log. "Follow him!"

"What has happened, Commander?" Liat `del Qha asked as the group broke into a loping trot in Benjamin's wake.

"I almost made a mistake," M`peth qHo said. "Come on!"

Benjamin paused long enough to be sure he had not lost them, but he did not wait. His anger fueled his determination as he plunged on, breaking a trail through the forest with his body and only an occasional swing of his machete. Ima` Nef`Tn closed on him, but he remained a dozen paces ahead of her. Given the confines of the trail the jZav`Etch were forced to proceed in single file. Though Liat `del Qha was the smallest with the shortest legs, it was Chep `Urt vEss who brought up the rear. He had positioned himself to guard their backs and regularly paused to look around only to rush on and catch them up.

For nearly an hour Benjamin broke trail through the tangle of brush, shrub and vines until he came upon a rise of stony ground and drew to a halt. Sweating profusely he waited for Ima` Nef`Tn to catch up and then he hopped lightly onto a boulder to scan their surroundings. The other cats straggled in, all gasping and too hot from their exertions. Unlike Humans, jZav`Etch had to rely on venting heat through panting rather than sweating. It made them better adapted to short bursts of speed than Humans, but far less efficient at long distant runs.

"Benjamin, was that really necessary?" M`peth qHo demanded crossly. She staggered up to the stone and leaned heavily on it.

"You wanted to go faster, Commander," he replied, still looking around. "I went faster. This is a good place to rest a minute. Catch your breath and we'll move on."

"Greater speed is welcome, but this pace you set is likely to cause one or more of us to collapse," she protested. "If this is some sort of punishment for my earlier actions, I apologize. I did not fully grasp the situation."

"You almost got yourself killed yesterday by acting without checking with me first," he said. "Today you could have drawn in all kinds of trouble for the rest of us. You're supposed to be a commander. Why don't you start acting like one?"

M`peth qHo was about to reply when Liat `del Qha took her by the arm and forced her to turn away from the Human. M`peth qHo glared down on the smaller female impatiently.

"Commander, how would you respond to one of our kind?" Liat `del Qha asked firmly, but in a voice too low for the others to hear.

M`peth qHo blinked at that, unable to see what the pilot meant.

"You have many times said Ben `Jamin is an important resource, Commander," Liat `del Qha went on. "You speak of him as if he is a tool to be used. You have never spoken of him as a person. Not as an equal. Here, in this jungle, he is superior. Can you not see it?"

Without replying M`peth qHo stalked away from the group a few paces and refused to look at Benjamin atop the stone. Anger and frustration roiled in her mind and made her stomach churn. Had she not berated Chep `Urt vEss for treating the Human as a lesser being? She had. And in her mind she had felt Benjamin to be their best chance of completing her mission. She had even bargained with him as she might have done with a jZav`Etch. What she needed was a willing ally, not a slave or a tool. Benjamin was not a subjugated beast to be pushed around and ordered to do her bidding. After several minutes thought she determined to treat him as an equal. For the sake of her mission, she must. For the good of the Hegemony, she must. It was just so difficult to think of him or any non-jZav`Etch that way.

She glanced around at the group who were all pointed not looking at her. Inwardly, she reproached herself. She would not again make such a mistake. These fleet personnel were not bound to her through long service and personal loyalty. Only duty held them and she knew another such mistake could cause even Liat `del Qha, her chief ally among the survivors, to challenge her suitability to lead.

Once the party had collected itself and all had gotten their wind back, Benjamin led them to the far side of the slope on which he had stopped and reoriented on the signal from the pod. He set a steady pace, but nowhere near as taxing as before. He never got more than a dozen paces ahead of the rest of the group except when approaching a fallen tree. Then he would forge ahead and clear away vines until they reached him. There was little talk among the survivors and none from Benjamin unless he spoke softly to Ima` Nef`Tn. Always he would smile at her and be gentle. She returned these gestures and sometimes would even kiss him playfully as he helped her over a tree.

When evening approached Benjamin turned out of their track, making for a place he said would do well for a camping spot. M`peth qHo did not object. She was as tired as she could remember being at any time in her life. Benjamin, though, seemed to have maintained his vigor. He was perhaps somewhat revived compared to his slightly bedraggled state at the morning meal. In spite of the earlier tension, she smiled at the recollection of his drawn face and weary eyes. Tem l`eth tong had looked no better, though the veteran had been in a very good mood.

The campsite proved to be to everyone's liking at first glance, but when they understood there could be no fire due to the simple fact there was nothing remotely like dry wood to burn, they were less pleased. The site itself was on a rise of stone, reasonably flat on top. No large trees could grow there because their roots had no place to bite. Vines and clinging undergrowth covered the ground and these Benjamin worked to remove. He cleared a circular patch with the help of the jZav`Etch. What vines he did not cut were shoved out of the way and sometimes had to be looped around other plants to keep them from flopping back into the cleared space. Where it could be seen the stone showed small signs of previous occupation. Benjamin explained that before building his canoe he had often used this site when venturing to the swamp to harvest marsh taters and leaping root which grew larger near the marsh due to less competition for the soupy, nutrient rich soil.

"What is that?" Liat `del Qha asked him when he drew a coil of slim cable out of his pack.

"A bug zapper," he said, smiling and presenting the cable for her inspection.

"I do not understand," she said, examining the cable.

"That connected to this," he said, taking a small black box from a side pocket of his pack, "will protect us from most of the smaller pests. It isn't one hundred percent proof, but a lot better than nothing."

The cats all watched curiously as the Human laid out the cable in a ring that encompassed the cleared space. He plugged both ends of it into the black box, pressed a button on the box's side and then went around the perimeter using a stick to adjust it.

"The box has a full charge," he said, tossing the stick away and wiping his hands on his shorts. "It'll last over night with no problem and as long as there aren't too many critters trying to get closer to us it should be good for the whole trip."

"What does it do?" M`peth qHo wondered.

"The cable carries an electric current," he said. "Not super powerful, you understand. It isn't meant to deter anything bigger than a cat..." Benjamin stopped and bit his lip, looking around the group with some embarrassment.

"We are not cats, Benjamin," M`peth qHo sighed, rolling her eyes. "The device will reduce the number of small creatures that might come to bother us in the night. Is that it?"

"Exactly," he said. His anger from earlier in the day had abated, now replaced by cool but not unfriendly regard. "Not all of them. Some of the larger ones might decide to cross it if they're really curious. Poly-pods, especially."

"Well, we planned to keep watch anyway," she said. "At least you have enough cable to leave a fair space for us to rest. And with our shelters we should have some warning before anything can get to us."

Benjamin had more tricks up his sleeve that the cats were also pleased with. Though they could not have a campfire he had packed a small stove of his own making fueled by oil rendered from one or another of the sea creatures he hunted. Not very large, it was sufficient to boil water and make his tea. M`peth qHo did not much care for the stuff and TaH `Kiy mTh claimed it upset his stomach, but the other three were glad to join their Human guide in several cups of the drink. And there was a bounty from the jungle itself.

"Here," Benjamin called from a little way down the slope. "You all should try these and see if you can eat them."

He was standing next to several large plants that had flower-like trumpets standing tall above the rest of the growth. Other, similar trumpets lay on the ground or touched vines and roots. When the jZav`Etch joined him he reached into one of the upright trumpets, extracting a small crab-like creature covered in a thin, runny liquid that dripped in stringy drops from its legs.

"Get out one of your med-kits and scan it," Benjamin suggested. "I like the taste of these. If they're safe for you I think you might, too."

The little creature did not look particularly appetizing, but it was not the most objectionable thing Benjamin had suggested as a food source. Liat `del Qha scanned the thing and waited for the med-kit to analyze it.

"I am somewhat impressed," she said in jZav.

"What is it, Pilot?" asked Ima` Nef`Tn, looking over her shoulder to read the data. "High protein content."

"And look at all the vitamins," Liat `del Qha said, scrolling the screen. "Not the best source and none of them particularly high, but I see no toxins whatever."

"Impressive," M`peth qHo said.

"I wonder what they taste like," Chep `Urt vEss said and edged closer to Benjamin to get a better look at the little thing. He was not inclined to show reluctance if the Human was ready to eat one. Benjamin handed it to him and the gunner brought it to his nose for a sniff. "It smells tart. Very sharp. I think it is the liquid."

"It's safe," said Benjamin, pulling a creature of a different kind from the plant. "These things crawl in when the flowers are lying down. They get caught in the honey and smother. When the flower has as many as it can hold it rises up like this to catch rain. The honey thins out and the creatures sink to the bottom where the plant can digest them."

He popped the small creature into his mouth without peeling the shell off and munched on it. Chep `Urt vEss flicked his ears and did the same. His expression went from cautiously curious to surprised and then pleased. He nodded his head enthusiastically.

"Like pickled Jaq`Huilla*!" he exclaimed. "Very good!"

"Are all creatures caught by these plants safe to eat?" M`peth qHo asked before the rest of the jZav`Etch could dip their hands into the plants.

"The only ones that go into the flowers are plant eaters," Benjamin explained. "They don't need venom to hunt with and the toxins on their skin or shell get digested first. Be sure you don't take all of the things the flower has caught, though. Leave it three or four, otherwise it will wither and die."

He collected a few more and then stepped aside to let the cats have their turn. They were, for a few minutes, like children gathering in treats. Even TaH `Kiy mTh tried some and enjoyed them. Liat `del Qha found she was a little too short to reach into the flowers, but Ima` Nef`Tn kindly fished out a handful for her to eat. Their feast was ended when night came on and they could no longer see into the plants. Licking their fingers and chatting pleasantly they returned to the confines of the camp.

It was when they were pitching their shelters that M`peth qHo had to make a serious decision. While she felt keeping her suit on was wise since it protected her from whatever might come over Benjamin's cable and somehow penetrate her shelter, her tail was miserably cramped. Ima` Nef`Tn had removed the lower half of her suit during a break in the midafternoon. Liat `del Qha, not troubled by having her stubby tail confined had removed her boots and her helmet so that her toes could feel the ground and her proportionately larger ears could stand up properly. M`peth qHo considered them briefly and then looked at Chep `Urt vEss who was obviously very comfortable in only the torso armor. With a firm nod the commander unfastened the seal around her waist and removed her boots. Sliding out of her suit's bottoms was a relief. Her tail swished and flick of its own accord and she sighed, pleased to be free from that confinement. Her helmet she left on, thinking wearing it might be more comfortable than propping her head on her pack. She also did not like the idea that something might somehow avoid the electrified cable, get into her shelter and crawl into her ear. There was also the advantage that she could set her sensors to actively monitor the surrounding jungle and alert her if something approached.

Benjamin said he would take the middle watch and that whoever took the last watch should wake him as soon as the sky lightened. He warned them not to be overly concerned with thunder, but if the wind picked up or if they felt rain he should be awakened immediately to assess the conditions. Chep `Urt vEss volunteered to take the first watch and made himself a pile of cut brush to sit on. The others crawled into their shelters and lay down on inflatable sleeping mats, too tired to carry on any sort of conversation.

Hours later Chep `Urt vEss turned at the sound of a shelter opening. TaH `Kiy mTh crawled into the open and stretched. He twisted at the waist and bent forward to work out a kink or two and then looked around at the almost silent forest.

"It is not time for your watch, yet, Engineer," the big dTel`Qohar said softly.

Opening his visor the ThaHn`Den replied, "It will be soon and I wish to be fully awake before I must keep guard."

Chep `Urt vEss gave an approving nod and shifted on the pile of brush to make room for the smaller jZav`Etch. TaH `Kiy mTh joined him and drew his jeq`istle*. He pressed the diagnostic button on the grip and was rewarded with two flashes of a tiny red light, indicating the weapon was fully functional. Again, the gunner approved. Perhaps this tender male was not as masculine as could be hoped, but he was trying, at least. Still, something seemed off about the engineer. He had been overly quiet since the evening before.

"Something troubles you, TaH `Kiy mTh," said the gunner.

"It is of no import," the engineer responded, shifting uncomfortably.

"We are males," the gunner coaxed. "The females and the Human are asleep."

TaH `Kiy mTh twisted to look at the shelters for a moment and then slowly turned back to face the forest. He remained silent a long time and Chep `Urt vEss was about to prompt him when he finally spoke.

"You like the Human now," TaH `Kiy mTh said haltingly.

"Like him? I do not know," the gunner replied truthfully. "I have learned he is not what I thought. And he seems to be past his madness. For the most part, anyway. Was that all that troubled you?"

"I like him less than I did," said the engineer, a little bitterness in his tone. "And I did not really like him before. I only felt he was useful."

"So he has proven to be," said Chep `Urt vEss. "I was wrong about that."

"Perhaps," TaH `KiY mTh said noncommittally.

Chep `Urt vEss again considered him for a moment and then said, "Is it because Tem l`eth tong offered him Chisq` Kah`*?"

TaH `Kiy mTh stiffened but made no reply.

"Or is it because she did not offer you Chisq` Kah`*?" the gunner pressed.

Again TaH `Kiy mTh did not reply.

"Or do you think all females should fall at your feet when you say sweet things?"

TaH `Kiy mTh's eyes flashed and he turned angrily on his superior, snarling, "I do not!"

"No?" asked the gunner ironically. They were speaking as males and not as soldiers, so he took no offense.

"I..." TaH `Kiy mTh clinched his jaws and looked away. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly before saying, "I like females. Who among us does not? Sex is enjoyable and if the female is pleased she will tell others."

"So the Human knows," chuckled Chep `Urt vEss good naturedly. "Put aside this nonsense. Show the females you are worthy. Please them as you like, but do not ever expect them to fawn over you."

"I never have expected that," declared the engineer stiffly.

"If that is true, I am mistaken," Chep `Urt vEss said, sounding unconvinced.

"Not all males are as you would have them, Chep `Urt vEss," hissed TaH `Kiy mTh. "And not all females are as these."

"Regrettably, that is so," the big dTel`Qohar said, rising to his full height and stretching. "It is time for your watch, Engineer. Watch well and guard us against the night."

With that Chep `Urt vEss stretched again and retreated to his shelter. Soon his low snores could be heard clearly in the quiet jungle.

*****

M`peth qHo sat bolt upright, tangling herself in the roof of her survival shelter and dumping her pack and helmet at her side. Her proximity alarm was sounding shrilly in her ear. An urgent call to action. Remembering where she was an instant before she did something foolish, she dropped onto her back and fumbled for the flap of the shelter. She was just rolling out of it when a jeq`istle* blasted nearby. Were they under attack? Who was on guard? Was it an animal or the mutineers?

A second blast sounded even as M`peth qHo sprang to her feet and slapped her visor down. Everyone else was rolling out of their shelters in varying states of confusion. Chep `Urt vEss reacted best, leaping to TaH `Kiy mTh's side in a single bound, weapon drawn.

"What is it?" demanded the gunner of the smaller male.

"Something large was moving down there," TaH `Kiy mTh responded, his body tense for action.

"Everyone spread out and watch the perimeter!" M`peth qHo commanded.

The HUD in her helmet showed her the location of the threat and she keyed up the gain on her lowlight sensors. Stepping up next to the males she focused on whatever it was the engineer had shot at.

"Just and Powerful Makers!" she hissed. "How did that get so close to the camp?"

A large, many-legged and armored creature with four huge mandibles lay twitching in the underbrush.

"What's going on?" demanded Benjamin, joining them. He peered intently into the jungle.

"An animal approached the camp," M`peth qHo told him. Her alarm sounded again and her HUD indicated movement to her right. She drew her weapon, turning to face it. "There is another!"